Serving Communities and Families

Rationale Statement:
The number of social and human service assistants is projected to grow by nearly 34 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This occupation will have a very large number of new jobs arise, about 114,000 over the projections decade. Demand for social services will expand with the growing elderly population, who are more likely to need adult day care, meal delivery programs, support during medical crises, and other services. In addition, more social and human service assistants will be needed to provide services to pregnant teenagers, people who are homeless, people who are mentally disabled or developmentally challenged, and people who are substance abusers. - US Dept of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos059.htm
Suggested grade level: 11 - 12

Topics covered:
  • Careers and skills in Community Services Pathway
  • Professional, ethical, and legal issues related to family and community issues
  • Characteristics and causes of social problems
  • Social support systems
  • Coping strategies
  • Advocacy groups


Indicator #1: Investigate careers in family and community services

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level

Standard and Examples
Comprehension
SFC 1.1 Identify careers in family and community services

For example:
  • Use Inspiration computer program to brainstorm on different careers in the family and community services field.
  • Conduct a career web search on different careers related to family and community services.
  • Using internet, research and create a visual on related careers.

Comprehension
SFC 1.2 Describe skills needed in family and community services careers

For example:
  • Job shadow a family and community services professional
  • Interview family and community services professional
  • Host a panel discussion
  • Create a checklist for skills needed in a community services career
Indicator #2: Discuss issues that confront human service employees

Application
SFC 2.1 Examine professional and ethical issues

For example:
  • Listen to a guest speaker on professional and ethical issues
  • Complete case studies addressing confidentiality issues
  • Develop professional code of ethics
Comprehension
SFC 2.2 Investigate legal issues

For example:
  • Listen to a lawyer speak on legal issues
  • Collect and discuss articles on current, legal issues
Comprehension
SFC 2.3 Describe health and safety concerns relating to community and family services.

For example:
  • Participate in a field trip to nursing home, adult training program, juvenile correction facility
  • Web search on safety issues
Indicator #3: Analyze current social problems

Analysis
SFC 3.1 Analyze characteristics and causes of social problems

For example:
  • Watch videos, read articles, search Web and summarize specific social problems such as: stress, violence, depression and suicide, dating, engagement, marriage and divorce, child abuse, problems of adolescence, cohabitation, middle and old age
  • Hold a class debate on the causes of specific social problems
  • Select a problem and research for characteristics and causes

Indicator #4: Examine support resources

SFC 4.1 Identify the role and responsibilities of personal support systems.
For example:
  • Draw a poster that illustrates the characteristics of a healthy relationship.
  • Develop a checklist to evaluate a healthy relationship.
  • Discuss the benefits of relationships in promoting health and satisfaction
  • Write an advice column on how to create new relationships.
Analysis
SFC 4.2 Analyze agencies and services to support individuals and families
For example:
  • Design a community pamphlet/portfolio that provides information on local agencies and services.
  • Conduct scavenger hunt using yellow pages to locate resources.

Evaluation
SFC 4.3 Select agencies and services that aid specific social problems
For example:
  • Research, present and justify findings on a selected service or agency through an oral presentation.
  • After hearing a panel discussion, respond to case studies.

Analysis
SFC 4.4 Examine coping strategies
For example:
  • Research and role play coping strategies
  • Develop a project to teach others on how to use coping strategies.
Synthesis
SFC 4.5 Propose an advocacy strategy
For example:
  • Develop strategy plan for selected community and family problem.
  • Write a editorial promoting an area of advocacy
  • Create a public service announcement
Indicator #5: Explain the rights and responsibilities of human service participants and their families
Comprehension
SFC 5.1 Summarize rights and responsibilities of human service participants and their families
For example:
  • Brainstorm a patients/families Bill of Rights
  • Compare and contrast different agencies patients’ rights and responsibilities with class generated document.